NBC Presents AMERICA’S CRUDE REALITY: BEYOND THE GULF DISASTER 6/30

Our need. Our dependence. Our way of life...As the crisis in the Gulf continues, what are the options for the future of energy in America?

On Wednesday, June 30th at 8PM ET, CNBC, First in Business Worldwide, will broadcast a one-hour special, "America's Crude Reality: Beyond the Gulf Disaster," hosted by CNBC's Melissa Francis that will explore our addiction to oil and search for safe options and new innovations for oil exploration in the future

The program will feature full team coverage:

· CNBC Senior Correspondent Scott Cohn will examine whether the push to drill caused the oil industry, government and the public to delude themselves into believing that deepwater drilling is safer than it truly is. Cohn will investigate how we got into this position in the first place; if there is too much risk built into the industry system; and take a deep look into the response plans and why they fall short.

· CNBC Power Lunch co-anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera will bring viewers on a television exclusive as she explores Devon Energy's oil sands project where the company is producing 35,000 barrels of oil a day out of the ground and hopes to double that by next year. Caruso-Cabrera will explore the question, "Are oil sands a viable alternative to drilling offshore?"

· CNBC Senior Energy Correspondent Sharon Epperson reports on the government's research program, Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), and how its creation has boosted funding for energy innovation and could soon be fueling America's energy needs.

In addition, Francis will speak with BP Capital CEO and founder of Citizens for Affordable Energy, T. Boone Pickens. Other guests include: Ian MacDonald, professor of Biological Oceanography at Florida State University; Tom Petrie, Bank of America Merrill Lynch Vice Chairman of its Investment Bank; C.J. Warner, Sapphire Energy President; and John Hofmeister, Former President & CEO of U.S. Operations for Shell Oil.

For more information go to: crudereality.cnbc.com

CNBC's Melissa Francis is co-anchor of CNBC's "The Call" (M-F 11AM-12PM ET).

CNBC's "America's Crude Reality: Beyond the Gulf" will re-air on Wednesday, June 30th at 12am ET, Sunday, July 4th at 11pm ET and Monday, July 5th at 6pm ET.

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